Drummond to try underhand FTs

Todd3 · Post #1 » by **Todd3** » Mon Jan 25, 2016 1:15 am

Best Pistons news in a while. If he can become proficient underhand it would be a franchise changer. Not because it would eliminate intentional fouls, but because he/we would become almost unstoppable.

No guarantee it makes any difference, but if there is an alternative that might work better, they have to at least try it and I'm just glad to hear they are willing to try.

Stan should hire Rick Barry to show him how to do it the right way.

Granny-style solution?:

Pistons center Andre Drummond has not tried underhand free throws as a possible solution to his woes from the line, and while it's wildly speculative to think he could fare any better with a completely foreign form when he can't make 40 percent with a traditional style he has used all his life, Van Gundy said he "wouldn't, in the long run, eliminate any possibility; the idea is to get the ball in the basket." The Pistons' coach said he doesn't think machismo would enter into it if Drummond could find success shooting underhanded, but added, "There's no guarantee it would get better. I think if any player knew it would get better, they would do it. I don't think it's a stigma thing, I just think it's kind of a last-resort thing. We're not there yet but you don't rule out anything when you're trying to get better."

http://www.mlive.com/pistons/index.ssf/2016/01/detroit_pistons_notes_calls_fo.html

mattao313 · Post #2 » by **mattao313** » Mon Jan 25, 2016 1:29 am

It doesn't say he gonna tried just "last resort" which most likely means never.

Todd3 · Post #3 » by **Todd3** » Mon Jan 25, 2016 1:40 am

mattao313 wrote:It doesn't say he gonna tried just "last resort" which most likely means never.

To me that means it's only a matter of time, because after 4 yrs @ 40% overhand I don't expect that to change. He is what he is overhand. Eventually they will switch to underhand. It's inevitable now that they are finally willing to try it. Before they blatantly refused. This is good news.

Canadafan · Post #4 » by **Canadafan** » Mon Jan 25, 2016 1:47 am

Awwww U had me excited he was actually going to do it

Blkbrd671 · Post #5 » by **Blkbrd671** » Mon Jan 25, 2016 1:53 am

damn you todd, was little excited and interested when i saw the title. it'll never happen. Because if it fails, now Dre mentally is f* 2 ways to sunday

Post #6 » by **Cowology** » Mon Jan 25, 2016 2:01 am

Title = lies.

DBC10 · Post #7 » by **DBC10** » Mon Jan 25, 2016 2:03 am

If he still shoots 40% underhand then he'll never hear the end of it and teams will hack him even further. The risk isn't worth the fallout IMO.

I'd rather him just lock himself in a gym and figure it out without anyone bothering him. Clearly Hopla hasn't gotten through to him.

bballnmike · Post #8 » by **bballnmike** » Mon Jan 25, 2016 2:45 am

Damn you got me excited with the title too. From a physics standpoint, you're more likely to make it shooting underhand. People just don't because it doesn't look as cool. Would be a game changer if a player like Drummond brought it back.

Todd3 · Post #9 » by **Todd3** » Mon Jan 25, 2016 2:55 am

Pretty sure Stan said they will eventually try it, so not sure what you guys are talking about. Didn't mean to imply they were doing it tomorrow.

If you think Dre will improve overhand so it wont get to that (good luck with that), but either way is a good thing to me.

ComboGuardCity · Post #10 » by **ComboGuardCity** » Mon Jan 25, 2016 2:59 am

Misleading

bballnmike · Post #11 » by **bballnmike** » Mon Jan 25, 2016 3:08 am

Todd3 wrote:Pretty sure Stan said they will eventually try it, so not sure what you guys are talking about. Didn't mean to imply they were doing it tomorrow.

If you think Dre will improve overhand so it wont get to that (good luck with that), but either way is a good thing to me.

I think we were all hoping he would try it tomorrow :lol:

Todd3 · Post #12 » by **Todd3** » Mon Jan 25, 2016 3:33 am

bballnmike wrote:
Todd3 wrote:Pretty sure Stan said they will eventually try it, so not sure what you guys are talking about. Didn't mean to imply they were doing it tomorrow.

If you think Dre will improve overhand so it wont get to that (good luck with that), but either way is a good thing to me.

I think we were all hoping he would try it tomorrow

lol me too. I'm excited just to know he's willing though and will eventually.

Louisville's Onuaku was 47% last year and switched to underhand and is 59% this year and continuing to get better. He's made 11 of his last 14 (78% over last 3 games).

Montanabadboy · Post #13 » by **Montanabadboy** » Mon Jan 25, 2016 5:34 am

Todd3 wrote:
bballnmike wrote:
Todd3 wrote:Pretty sure Stan said they will eventually try it, so not sure what you guys are talking about. Didn't mean to imply they were doing it tomorrow.

If you think Dre will improve overhand so it wont get to that (good luck with that), but either way is a good thing to me.

I think we were all hoping he would try it tomorrow

lol me too. I'm excited just to know he's willing though and will eventually.

Louisville's Onuaku was 47% last year and switched to underhand and is 59% this year and continuing to get better. He's made 11 of his last 14 (78% over last 3 games).

If Dre could do that, that would be HUGE!!!!

MrBigShot · Post #14 » by **MrBigShot** » Mon Jan 25, 2016 7:29 am

A writer actually suggested that Drummond do this. He was blocked by Dre on twitter, and in addition to that Dre tweeted saying that he was not going to shoot FTs underhanded.

edmunder_prc · Post #15 » by **edmunder_prc** » Mon Jan 25, 2016 8:58 am

Nope. Can't let this post stand.

-Snake

Laimbeer · Post #16 » by **Laimbeer** » Mon Jan 25, 2016 11:54 am

Just because a few guys did this successfully doesn't make it a cure all. This would just screw him up more. Work on it.

MotownMadness · Post #17 » by **MotownMadness** » Mon Jan 25, 2016 1:05 pm

I don't really understand how it will make you a better FT shooter. It almost seems to be more difficult to me.

Todd3 · Post #18 » by **Todd3** » Mon Jan 25, 2016 1:19 pm

MotownMadness wrote:I don't really understand how it will make you a better FT shooter. It almost seems to be more difficult to me.

I remember trying it before and it felt like every one was going to be short, but they actually went in as much or more than my overhand. I don't know why. It always surprised me when they went in. It was just too awkward to do regularly for me, but I'm sure if you do it enough it gets more comfortable.

BadMofoPimp · Post #19 » by **BadMofoPimp** » Mon Jan 25, 2016 1:33 pm

I bet Drummond has to have tried shooting underhand at least at home before.

Invictus88 · Post #20 » by **Invictus88** » Tue Jan 26, 2016 12:17 am

MotownMadness wrote:I don't really understand how it will make you a better FT shooter. It almost seems to be more difficult to me.

I think the theory is that underhand free throws take out the aiming portion of a free throw.

From a physics standpoint, you can think of your arms as strings attached to the sides of the basketball. The ball would swing as a pendulum in a straight line provided those strings are of equal length. At that point it's all a matter of developing a consistent velocity.

I do think that pride plays a big factor in not trying the 'potty shot'. Nobody else does it and it looks goofy.

I also think that most professional basketball players don't suffer nearly as much as Dre does with keeping the trajectory straight -- likely due to his large hands getting in the way.

I will say that watching him shoot free throws it looks like his right elbow is too wide; making trajectory even more unreliable. I wonder if he's tried locking his right lat in place and pulling his elbow in...